The news headlines about catastrophic accidents are sufficient to remind you to avoid the most dangerous driving behaviors, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or taking selfies behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Even though you are too cautious to engage in such egregiously dangerous behaviors, you probably have some dangerous driving habits that have come to feel so natural to you that you now take them for granted. These little mistakes that are part of your usual driving routine can increase the risk of a collision. Even if you are not 100% at fault for the accident, the fact that you were engaging in bad habits could increase the share of fault that the insurance company attributes to you, thereby reducing the amount of money you can get on your insurance claim. If you were injured in a car accident arising from a bad habit or mistake that is not bad enough to constitute a traffic violation, a Santa Fe motor car accident lawyer.
Driving With Your Seat Too Far Back
Being married to someone who is much taller than you is nice because your tall spouse can always help you reach items on high shelves, but if you share a vehicle with your long-legged spouse, you will have to adjust the seat every time you get behind the wheel. Skipping the adjustment of the seat may seem like a good way to save time, but when your seat is too far back, it is hard to see the road and even harder to reach the accelerator and brake pedals.
Prioritizing Getting There Quickly With Getting There Safely
When you are driving, haste makes you crash, and not only when you drive too fast. Other time-saving measures can put you at risk. Running yellow lights is risky, and so is pulling out into traffic for a left turn and assuming that the other cars will be able to stop in time. Not taking the time to buckle your seatbelt is the most dangerous shortcut of all, but failing to adjust your seat position and mirrors also exposes you to unnecessary risk.
Using Headphones or Earbuds
Everyone knows that holding a cell phone to your ear while you drive is dangerous, and both cars and phones have made technological advances so that you no longer have to do it. Wearing a single Bluetooth earpiece does not sound so bad, but the safer option is to connect your phone to your car’s audio system for phone conversations and dictating text messages.
Improper Footwear
Some shoes are better than others at pressing the gas or the brake pedals, but even the clunkiest boots or the spikiest stiletto heels are better than no shoes at all. If you drive barefoot, you will find that the brakes respond differently than how you are used to.
Contact Slate Stern About Car Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in motor vehicle accidents. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
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